I finally took my own advice, carving out time to focus on something I preach all the time: local SEO.
More specifically, I tackled my online business listings. Think Yelp, Bing Places for Business, Foursquare, Citysearch, and ChamberofCommerce.com. These aren’t sites I check every day – but they play a big role in how search engines rank your business locally.
And here’s the kicker: within days, I saw a noticeable bump in my search rankings. Better visibility on Google Maps and more impressions for “SEO consultant near me.”
So yeah – it’s worth it. Let’s talk about why.
What Is Local SEO, and Why Should You Care?
Local SEO helps people find you when they’re looking for services near them. It’s your digital footprint in the real world – how your business shows up when someone types in “[your service] near me” or searches directly for your name.
If you’ve ever:
- Tried to find a coffee shop open right now
- Looked up a contractor in your area
- Searched for a marketing agency or consultant nearby
…then you’ve seen local SEO in action.
For small businesses, solopreneurs, and service-based pros like me, it’s not optional – it’s foundational.
The First Step: NAP Consistency
NAP = Name, Address, Phone Number.
If your NAP info is inconsistent across the web, search engines get confused – and confused search engines don’t send you traffic.
That’s why I went through every listing and double-checked that my business name, address, and phone number were 100% aligned. No abbreviations in one listing and full street names in another. No typos. No missing suite numbers.
Tip: Use a spreadsheet to track where your business appears online. Include a column for URL, login info, and the date you last updated it. Trust me – this will save you hours later.
Directories I Updated
Here’s where I focused my energy:
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places for Business
- Yelp for Business
- Foursquare for Business
- Citysearch
- ChamberofCommerce.com
- A few local and industry-specific directories
Each one had its quirks, but I made sure every listing included:
- A high-quality logo and images
- A keyword-rich business description
- A full list of services (SEO, content strategy, social media)
- Accurate hours of operation
- Matching contact info
Pro Tip: If you’re in a niche industry, look for directories specific to your field – they often drive higher quality leads.
Optimizing Each Profile (Don’t Phone It In)
Here’s where a lot of businesses fall short: they create the listing but don’t optimize it.
Photos matter. Descriptions matter. Reviews really matter. And each directory gives you different ways to add context and keywords.
On Yelp, I added service keywords like “Philadelphia SEO,” “digital marketing strategy,” and “social media consultant” into my About section.
On Bing, I made sure every relevant category was selected.
On Foursquare, I geo-tagged precisely and uploaded new images.
These tweaks may seem minor – but they help search engines understand what you do and where you do it. And that’s what gets you ranking.
Did I Mention It’s a Grind?
This is one of those things that’s simple, but not easy.
Updating listings takes time. Even with tools like BrightLocal or Yext, there’s still a manual layer to it – especially if you care about doing it right.
I blocked off a couple of hours a day for about a week. Not glamorous. But now I’m seeing the payoff: stronger visibility in local search, more traffic to my site, and a more professional digital presence overall.
Practice What You Preach
If you’re running a business and haven’t cleaned up your listings in a while, now’s the time. Inconsistent or incomplete listings are like broken signs on the internet. You wouldn’t hang a half-finished sign on your storefront, right?
So do a quick audit. Start with your biggest platforms. Then work your way through the rest.
Your SEO will thank you.
What to Do Next
Overwhelmed? Start small. Here’s a checklist to get going:
- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Set up Bing Places
- Optimize your Yelp listing
- Submit to ChamberofCommerce.com and Citysearch
- Double-check your NAP everywhere
- Add clear service descriptions and high-quality images
- Request reviews from clients, peers, and partners
And if you want help making sure your listings are working as hard as you are, check out how I support businesses with local SEO strategies.
Final Thoughts
SEO doesn’t always feel tangible. It’s slow, technical, and sometimes invisible.
But local SEO – especially directory optimization – is different. You can feel the impact. It’s visible. And once it’s done, it gives you a solid foundation to build on.
So carve out the time. Or outsource it. Just don’t ignore it.
People are out there searching for exactly what you offer. Make sure they can find you. Need help optimizing your local listings or figuring out where to start? Let’s chat. I can help you clean it up, rank better, and show up stronger – without burning hours you don’t have.
